Mark's reviews
Review of Cinnamon Square
09 Apr 08, 13:27
Everyone loves this place 
They make delicious bread and delicious cakes and pastries on-site to eat in or take away. They also offer baking courses for children during school holidays and adults at other times in 'The Makery'. They are the standard other bakers and coffee shops should aspire to. The signature Cinnamon Squares, warm and freshly-baked with a covering of icing are out of this world! The bakery enables the opportunity for while parents enjoy a sophisticated coffee and a signature Cinnamon Square, children can decorate cookies, or even hold their own baking birthday party! .The building where Cinnamon Square is now housed retains many of its original features, including low wooden beams on the ground floor and a timber roof spanning the upstairs seating area. Consistently excellent across the range of their entire offering. Few weekends go by without a visit by my family.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Spearmint Rhino
09 Apr 08, 13:33
outrageous! 
I couldn't believe my eyes when I went in here. There are women cavorting around with no clothes on! I've never seen the like. Disgusting!!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Review of Epoca Expresso Bar
09 Apr 08, 14:51
Hearty food 
Epoca's offering is better than many of their competitors. Regular sandwiches are available, but they specialise in paninis/melts and pasta dishes. The pasta servings are always generous. Service is quick and friendly and if you go there regularly they'll often give you a free piece of fruit or fruit salad. Eating in isn't much dearer, although that experience can be spoiled with them calling all their customers 'young man' or 'young lady'. The girl who says it mostly is barely out of nappies herself, a little patronising!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Tattershall Castle
09 Apr 08, 14:58
Blurry memories 
What a splendid place to get slaughtered by the river of a summer's evening! It's been a long time since I was there last, but I remember enough to warn you all not to eat the dodgy burgers they serve. Or go in the 'night club' - you have been warned! Stay on deck, watch the world go by and drink yourself to oblivion......
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Gate
21 May 08, 14:23
Welcome back 'The Gate'
This pub was always known as The Gate until a few years ago when some bright spark tried to theme it (sort of) and renamed it the Jenny Wren. It became a dismal hole to avoid. However, a couple of years ago a local company took over, completely refurbished it and returned it to it's rightful name once again. The Gate is what modern folk would describe as a Gastro Pub. The bar is welcoming and friendly, best of all there are no chavs in there as it's generally frequented by the over 30s. The food menu has plenty to choose from and doesn't change too often - a good thing in my opinion for a 'local' pub. Amongst the best dishes are the Duck Salad and their selection of freshly-cooked steaks. Complemented with a good selection of resonably-priced wines it's a place I'd often choose to go to over a local restaurant.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Burburrys Wine Bar
21 May 08, 14:31
Hideous!
I've been to this place just the once and that's the way it's going to stay. After a very pleasant meal with friends in Zsa Zsa next door (must get round to reviewing it) we decided to decamp next door to Burburrys for a night cap. What a mistake. Tiny, cramped front bar with slow service; the rest of it was really dark and unwelcoming. If you wished to visit the toilets (don't bother) you have to risk your life climbing the steepest, narrowest staircase in the world. Better to do your business on the floor where you stand, I doubt they'd notice. Despite the presence of some burly doormen there appeared to be no discerning entry policy. The place was a magnet for lowlife from all around, most of them high on crack cocaine and foaming at the mouth. Like the journalists say, we made our excuses and left!
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of The Garrick Arms
21 May 08, 17:51
Shocking 
What a dump The Garrick is. It's a typical 'closest pub to the office establishment'. The atmosphere is only created by most of the employees of a certain nearby radio group who outnumber all other customers most nights. The drinks aren't great, service can be slow and clumsy. The toilets are a disgrace, their only claim to fame being the place where Richard Bacon once received a beating from a couple of blokes. I think they should bring back smoking in pubs, if only to improve the air quality and general ambience in this distinctly lacking hostelry.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Mediterranean Kitchen
22 May 08, 17:31
Consistently good
I like the Med Kitchen. I've been there a number of times over the past few years and am happy to report that the food quality and service is consistently very good. The menu doesn't change that much, but I think that's OK in this sort of establishment as it's good to have a 'banker' restaurant nearby where you know exactly what you're going to get. Steaks, fries and salads are particularly recommended. Those with a slightly wicked sense of humour can enjoy watching one of the staff who appears to suffer from a mild form of Tourettes!
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of All Bar One
22 May 08, 17:37
You've seen one, you've seen them all
OK, it's a huge chain so anybody who's ever consumed an alcoholic drink should know what to expect. This one's in Leicester Square so has a mixed clientele of local workers and tourists. Usual Central London (high) prices, but a fair selection of drinks. The outside area gets very crowded when the weather's good and sometimes you have to fight your way to a packed bar. A place to start a night from with the first couple of drinks, then move on. You're in the heart of London here, there are loads of better places to fall over.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.